Temporary but possibly permanent stablemate

[Puppysnake]

Both of my bikes are down for repairs for now, so a friend is letting me borrow one of his until I get mine running. It's for sale, but he didn't get any offers recently (probably due to being late in the season), so he took it off craigslist until spring. After riding it a bit, I'm tempted to buy it myself.

It's an '84 V65 Sabre, 34K miles, with a back rest and luggage rack, and the original Hondaline fairing. I'm 5' 10", so it's a bit on the big side, but I'm enjoying it. I can flat-foot it when I'm sitting on it, so it's manageable. Just takes a little getting used to, but it feels better the more I ride it.

It doesn't need any repairs, there's no damage (except for a few small chips in the paint) and everything works. Starts easy, but needs a few minutes to warm up. I changed the oil as part of my process of getting to know the bike. Didn't see anything unusual in the old oil. Runs good, no strange engine noises, no smoke, no leaks. The fairing does a good job of keeping the wind off. So I'm thinking with some saddlebags, a tank bag, and bags for the passenger seat and luggage rack, it would make a nice touring bike. He wants $1500 for the whole package, and he's fine with letting me make payments on it. So I'm tempted to go for it.

I took some pictures while on a ride yesterday...












I took off the back rest and luggage rack for now because I'm not using them, but here they are before I removed them...

[JB1290]

Looks to be in great shape. 

[green427]

Looks nice, seems to be in mint condition.

$1500 is not a bad price if the seals & bushings are in new condition.

For some reason that fairing reminds me of Bubba Zanetti's fairing in Mad Max.

[Burgi]

Nice looking bike, I like the fairing.

[ariwhiteboy]

I would love to find a fairing like that for my bike.    I say if you can swing it, go for it! Great looking bike! 

[noahnsteph]

If I had a buddy who'd let me make payments while riding that bike I'd jump all over that deal.

[mike884]

yeah those sabres are sharp, and hard to find with the nice fairing... as long as 2nd or 3rd gear isnt shot, like most I have seen, go for it, those things have some ooompph!

[Option13]

 

Cool bike.

[isleofmanfan]

That last pic is really tastey!

[Laminar]

Looks like your bars are a bit lower than mine:


I'd check the condition of the cams before purchasing. There were three iterations of cam design throughout the V65's life, they got better as they went. A valve clearance adjustment is a good idea anyway.

[ExTex]

Good price and a pretty bike.

I'd go for it if I were as tall as you. 

My Sabre 700 was a bit too big for me.

Ride Safely,

[luckylindy]

Go for it.

[Hondo]

Beautiful bike!

I wish that it was mine -

[Puppysnake]

Looks like your bars are a bit lower than mine

The handlebar is from a Nighthawk S. On this bike, it puts me at a forward lean. I want to find one a bit taller so I'll be sitting upright.

[Puppysnake]

That last pic is really tastey!

The luggage rack?

[Soupskin]

I'd say it's a keeper!

 

[Brittles]

Looks like a nice bike at a decent price. Plus, the Sabre is more collectable than the Magna........better looking imo.

[coffee_brake]

Heck it seems like you've already taken ownership of it...

[Adam Roby]

Same as the one I owned except mine had a square headlight with no fairings.  Amazing bike, still compare everything I've ridden to it and would rather be driving that than my NH - they were known for cam issues (mine died cause of this).  Not sure how you can check for it, valves / compression?  Aside from that, amazing bike - if you can afford it, go for it.

[Laminar]

Looks like your bars are a bit lower than mine

The handlebar is from a Nighthawk S. On this bike, it puts me at a forward lean. I want to find one a bit taller so I'll be sitting upright.

Ooo, I was just thinking about getting some shorter bars. I'd offer to trade, but I think one of mine is slightly bent and I'd hate to give you a bad bar.

Not sure how you can check for it, valves / compression?  Aside from that, amazing bike - if you can afford it, go for it.

Pull the valve covers and inspect the cams.

They should look like this:


And not like this:

[Puppysnake]

...mine had a square headlight with no fairings.

The bike's headlight is still there, right behind the fairing's headlight. The whole thing comes off the bike for riding around town in the summer. I'd keep it on for the cold weather and for touring.

[Puppysnake]

I just got back from our local bike night and was talking to my friend. He told me he forgot to mention before that he also has a Cortech tank bag and saddle bags for the bike that are included if I buy it.

[coffee_brake]

Dude if you have a place to keep it out of the weather, why not? you obviously like the machine....old bikes that are cheap to buy, still run well and are easy to maintain are the blessing that comes with us "budget" riders...we actually LIKE the older machines....

[bajakirch]

That seems like a deal too good to pass up. As long as it's mechanically sound, I'd jump on it.

[creaky]

Wow! Nice looking bike, I'd be proud to have it in the lineup.  As others have said, the 1st generation V4s had camshaft and rocker arm issues, the tipoff is excessive noise from the top end.